Parachute pack



S. SWlTLlK PARACHUTE PACK May 17, 1932.`

Filed Aug. l2. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Sang/Z .NVENTOR ATTORNEY May 17, 1932, Q SW|T| |K 1,859,185

PARACHUTE PACK Filed Aug. 12I 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 7 Z dgl-l1- ";ls\ cm@ ATTORNEY Patented May 17, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE STANLEY SWITLIK, 0F TRENTON, NEW ASSIGNOB. TO SWITLIX '.PRACHUTE AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, .A CORPORATION 0F NEW :naam

PAB'ACHUTE PACK Application led August 12, 1930. Serial No. 474,818.

ordinarily made of iexible sheet material and in their construction, as a rule, joints are such as will permit water to possibly enter and come in contact with the parachute.

In this respect, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a simple and practical container that may readily open and instantly release the parachute, which, when in a compact small compass in its container, it is effectively sealed against the ent-rance of water.

It is common practice to equip parachutes with small pilot parachutes, such as will freely and instantly open irrespective of air currents or air resistance. As a general thing, the containers now used include a cover, which erforms no other purpose than to overlie an cover the pilot parachute, such cover including an automatically releasable holding means which frees the pilot chute. In this respect the present invention differentiates and has for its purpose to provide a container for the parachute, wherein the pllot parachute forms a flexible contiguousV that it may instantly take the air, and thereby insure immediate opening of the main parachute.

It is to be understood that the particulars lherein given are in no way limitive, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances. v

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l i's a bottom plan view of the improved parachute pack constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the parachute pack embodying the invention.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the pilot parachute, showing it in its normal open conition.

Fi re 5 is a sectional view on line 5- 5 `of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is aview in side elevation showthe parachute in the act of unfolding.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing theadjacent ends of a cable for holding the pack closed, the ends being separated.

Figure 8 is a plan view of Figure 7, the adjacent ends connected.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view on line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a view of the tool 17 a.

Figure 12 is a sectional view showing a portion of the base wherein the marginal frame is constructed of wire.

Referring to the drawings, 1 identities an open frame, which may be any desired size and shape. Extending across an opening 2a of the frame is a sheet or panel 2, the frame and the panel constituting the base of a container. In other words the base of the container comprises a sheet or panel which is bordered with a thick marginal rim, in the outer face of which a groove 3 is formed. Portions of a harness 3a, which constitutes means whereby the pack may be carried upon or connected to a person, are fastened to the outside qf the base, straps 4 being adapted for thispurpose.

The device includes a main parachute 5 and a ilot parachute, the shroud lines, 6 of which main parachute. y

A portion 7 approximately the same sha e as the base constitutes a central part of t e pilot parachute, but is somewhat larger in area. Suitable spring means is operatively carried by the pilot chute, and so tensioned that it may act to constantly hold the pilot chute in an open or spread condition. This means comprises 2 springs 8 and 9, which extend at right angles and intersect each other. Each spring extends from one corner of the part 7 to the opposite corner, the springs being fitted in the box 10 on the inner or under side of the part 7.

The size of the canopy of the pilot chute can be determined by a skirt or apron 11, which depends in a surrounding posltion from the central part 7, and the shroud lines 6 are connected to this skirt or apron. It has been found preferable, though not necessary, to join the skirt or apron to the part 7 1n- Wardly from the, periphery of the latter thereby providing a flap or narrow auxillary skirt 12 above the part 11.

The pack, when being made up, is arranged in a small compact compass, the main parachute being folded in the usual way on top of the base, While the pilot chute. is disposed on top of the main parachute with the skirt 11 folded inwardly underneath the part 7, the shroud lines 6 being placed in between the part 7 and the main parachute. In order to form the pack into a small compact compass, pressure is then applied in order to bring the flange or auxiliary skirt 12 of the pilot chute into a osition where it may extend around the e ge of the base over the groove 3 therein. A suitable cable 13 may then be drawn around the edge of the base, drawin the flange or skirt 12 into the groove. Then t e ends of the cable may be drawn toward each other and fastened together, drawing the marginal portion of the pilot chute into the groove 3, securing the pilot chute to the base by means of a tightly closed joint, and thereby producing a sealed container for the main parachute. The part 7 with its iange or skirt 12 preferably of waterproof material, when the pack is so closed in a small compass, excludes AWater from reaching the main parachute through the material of the flexible part 'of the container or throu'gh the joints between this part and the ase.

The extreme marginal edge of the flange or auxiliary skirt 12 may be folded over the fabric, or otherwise arranged as identified at 14, asa way of preferably thickening the eing connected to the apex of th from applie There are many ways of. detachably connecting the adjacent ends of the cable, whereby it can be very quickly disconnected at will, so as to permit the springs 8 and 9 to come into play. The springs 8 and 9 are normally pulling out after the cable has beenA grooved away from the pack. When the pilot chute is in position as above described, the sprlngs. are put under tension. One of the many ways for connecting the adjacent ends of the cable consists of plvotally connecting a plate 15 to one end of the cable, the free end of the plate having an opening or aperture 15a. Pivotally connected to the other end of the cable is an element comprising two arms 16 and 17 forming an obtuse angle with each other, the arm 16 being connected to the cable, while in the free end of the out? er arm 17 an eye or opening 18 is formed. The element, whlch comprises the two arms 16 and 17 and the plate 15 constitute the two parts of the fastener for the adjacent ends.

of the cable, therefore when the arm 17 is 1nserted through the opening in the plate 15, the'element and the plate may be locked detachably together, by means of a slip pin 19, which is inserted through the opening or eye in the element and can lie flat against the side of the plate, as shown in Figure 8. When the slip pin is withdrawn, the cable no doubt being under tension, the plate will simply slip off the arm 17 of the element, the release lopening of the plate 15, in which case'the plate 15 is lost and the two ends of the cable are thereby quickly detached, allowing thepilots chute to open and take the-air as in Figure v The slip pin 19 is connected to a rip or pull cord 20, to the other end ofwhich may be attached a ring 21, should the. pack be of a free type. Should the pack be opened automatically after the passenger has left the craft, the pull or rip-cord will of course be attached to some part of the craft in any suitable manner. pull or rip-cord, it is mounted to extend through a flexible metal tubing or conduit 22, which may be fastened to a part of the harness. The cable 13 may also be fastened In order -to protect thein any manner to this conduit, so that when i it is released from the pack it will not become lost..

.65 skirt at this point, so as to prevent the fabric From the foregoing it can be understood that there has been novel container inclu ga simple base having a lixed marginal outline with a f abric body portion, in combination with a simple tie for 'drawin the body portion into intimate contact with the edge of the base along A form of pilot chute tightly clinched in a marginal groove of the base is produced, and since the cover 'or pilot chute, particularly its central part 7 and the central part of the base, are made of waterproof material, the container is impervious to water, keeping the main parachute dry and protected against dampness. While the frame 1 of the base is formed of two rings 3c, preferably of wood, secured together by screws 3b with the panel 2 between the rings, it is obvious that the frame may be made of heavy wire 4b, the canvas panel 2a of which is fastened over the frame as shown at 2b and secured at 2c, the flexible panel being of waterproof material such as waterproo canvas or the like, rendering protection to the main pack encased in the container.

When the loop 16a is in the act of engaging the hook 19a, the transverse part of the loop 16a depresses a spring tensioned pin 19h, which is carried by the body of the hook 19a, the pin 1911. acting to retain the transverse part of the loop 16a in the crotch of the hook 19a.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is: v

1. A container for a main parachute, coinprisinga periphery of fixed contour and having a base consisting of a panel connected to the periphery of fixed contour, a fabric cover member constituting a pilot chute arranged over and housing the main parachute, said cover member having a marginal flexible skirt extending past the edges of the base and releasably attached marginally to the base.

2. A container for a main parachute, comprising a periphery of fixed contour and having a base consisting of a panel connected to the periphery of fixed contour, a fabric cover member constituting a pilot chute ar-- veo ranged over and housing the main parachute said cover member having a marginal flexible skirt extending past the edges of the base and releasably attached marginally to the base, the base being flat and imperforate and waterproof, While the cover is waterproof and imperforate.

sirrliduced a simple and 3. In a arachute container, a thin flat in iperforate ase member having aperiphery of fixed. contour, a body member having a flexible skirt adapted to extend .-past the edges of the base, a iiexible tie adapted to extend around the base outside of the skirt to draw the skirt against the base, and a quickly deachable means connecting the ends of said 4. In a parachute container, a thin fiat imperforate base having a 'groove extending around the same in the edge thereof, a body member having a flexible skirtadapted to surround the base in engagement with said edge, and a tie to draw said skirt into said groove.

5. In a parachute pack, a base having a groove extending around the same in the edge, a main parachute adapted to be folded A upon the base, a pilot parachute adapted to cover the main parachute and having a part extending down past and along the edge of the base, and a tie adapted to surround the base outside of said part of the pilot parachute and draw the same tightly into said groove.

6, In a parachute pack, a base having a periphery of fixed contour, a main parachute adapted to be folded upon the base, a pilot parachute adapted to form a cover for the main parachute and having a marginal flexible skirt adapted to extend down past the periphery of the base, and an independent tie adapted to extend around the periphery of the base outside of the pilot parachute to draw the later into intimate contact with the periphery of the base.

7. Ina parachute pack a base having a groove extending around the same in the edge thereof, a parachute overlying the base and having at the top a member serving as a cover, said member having a flexible skirt surrounding the base in engagement with said edge, a tie adapted to extend around thev base over said skirt and secured in said groove, and a quickly'detachable-fastening between the ends of the tie.

8.. In a parachute pack, a thin flat .base having a groove extending around the same -in the lede thereof, a parachute device overase and having at the top a member forming a cover, said member having a flexible skirt extending around the base outside of the edge of the base, and a detachable tie extending around the base over the skirt and holding the latter rightly in said groove.

9. In a parachute container la base member having a periphery of fixed contour, a body member having a flexible skirt adapted to extend past the edges of said base, said base having a groove, a iiexible tie adapted to extend around the base outside of the skirt to draw the skirt into thegroove of the base, a quickly detachable means connecting the ends of the tie, said means consisting of a connector to be manually attached to one end ,of the tie, an elementcarried by the other end of the tie and insertablethrough one end of the connector and provided with an opening assuming a positron beyond one face of the connector, a slip pin enga ed in said opening, and a ri cord operativefy connected to the slip pin or extracting it and releasing the element from the connector.

10. In a parachute container, a base member having a periphery of fixed contour prov vided with a marginal groove, a body member having a iexible skirt adapted to extend past v the ed es of the base, a flexible tie adapted to exten around the base on 'the outside of the skirt to draw the skirt into the groove of the base, a quickly detachable means connectingthe ends of said tie, said means comprising a loop at one end of the tie, a connector having a hook and provided with a s1ot, which receives a tool having a hook at one end to temporarily engage with said loop for4 drawing the hook of the connector in engagement with said loop upon moving the tool in a desired direction and subsequently removing the tool, an element carried by the other end of the tie and insertable through the other end of the connector, said element having an opening assuming a position beyond one :face` of the connector, a slip pin to engage said opening, and a rip cord connected to the slip pin for operatingthe latter for ei'ecting a separation of the tie.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STANLEY SWITLIK. 

